West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
The mid-evening “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service still holds the possibility of some Christmas Day snow – the possibility that led the NWS to issue this Special Weather Statement advisory earlier today. Still too far away to say for sure, but they’re saying there’s a chance that precipitation will bump into cold air and result in Christmas snow for the first time since December 2008. We’ll keep an eye on how the forecast evolves!
Somehow we missed hearing about this one in advance again this year – but you still have till 8:30 pm to get a photo at Easy Street Records with Coco Cris Cringle and Pickle Whistle, aka Maurice Caldwell, Jr., and Stephanie, according to the e-mail that also brought this photo.
Joining the Christmas Eve/Day church-services list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, three more lists now ready for anyone interested in advance planning. This year we’ve included Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve/Day information wherever possible. Here are the direct links:
*Restaurants – here
*Coffee shops – here
*Grocery stores – here
Please also note, this research has taken the better part of the past two weeks, and there’s always a chance a business will change its plan – so we’d advise you to set out (especially on Christmas Day) with Plans A and B. For more information on local establishments, you can also check their listings in the WSB West Seattle Restaurant Guide. (And if you are a businessperson or customer and see something on our lists NOW that you know isn’t correct – or something missing – please e-mail us! editor@westseattleblog.com)
Two running notes this afternoon:
First – congratulations to Bonnie, whose friend Robin shared the photo, explaining:
Wanted to share that my friend Bonnie hit 1000 miles in 2012 this morning while we ran on Alki. We are super proud of her!
Second – a Sunday event from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and a reminder just sent by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Tim McConnell:
We have our 2nd Annual Holiday Light run tomorrow night at 6 pm. We will be going about 3 miles at a very slow pace, starting at the store and looking at some of the better lighted houses in the neighborhood and ending at the Helmstetler house. We encourage people to dress festive and bring a can of food for the West Seattle Food Bank. We will meet in the store around 5:50ish and head out around 6. The run should take about 40 minutes plus however long people want to hang out at the Helmstetler house.
AKA, of course, West Seattle Lights. (Where you’ll find free hot chocolate 6-8 pm Christmas Eve, regardless of whether you’re on foot or on/in vehicle.) P.S. WS Runner is at California/Charlestown, second floor.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Chelsea:
Myself and a small group of friends are planning to go caroling (including handheld keyboards) tonight in West Seattle and we have a little stage fright. We could use some backup! We’ve never done this before…
We’ll be on foot around the 35th & Holden area [map] starting around 6:30. If anyone in the neighborhood wants to join us, they can send an e-mail to chelseahumslovesongs@gmail.com for a meeting time and place.
Adults and kids of all ages are welcome! We are not professional carolers by any means. We are not sure what songs we are going to sing just yet. Feel free to bring your requests. Help us bring some holiday cheer to the neighborhood!
(One more view of the first sunset of winter, by Tisha Satow, seen from The Arroyos)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – which lists what’s happening through New Year’s Day – and year-round Event Calendar:
VIGIL TO HONOR NEWTOWN: Tonight is the night for the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st and Alki) candlelight vigil organized by West Seattleite Casey Ann Rasmussen – 5 pm, rain or shine, bring a light source. From the original announcement:
We have a responsibility to humanity not to forgot or pretend that the horror we have witnessed this last week hasn’t happened but rather to join hands, raise the collective consciousness and increase the worldly compassion toward peace and healing during this difficult time. Please join us for a non-political evening of love, remembrance and hope for a better future.
PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470DONATIONS FOR EVENT PROVIDED BY:
Friends and Family of Violent Crime Victims
Husky Deli
Sugar Rush Baking Company
Also today/tonight:
ARTPOCALYPYSE: All-day, all-night, last-minute-shopping sale at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District (2206 California SW), 10 am-midnight.
ILLUSIONS’ HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Until 3 pm at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor; 5619 California SW) – last day they’re open till Christmas – with the famous “holiday buffet.” P.S. Got the new Illusions app yet?
FREE JUNCTION GIFT WRAP STATION! One more time – 11:30 am-3:30 pm: The West Seattle High School Music Program parents will staff a gift wrap station at Windermere (4526 California SW) while the WSHS Music students perform. Please bring Junction retailer receipt. (FREE wrap and ribbon, but no boxes.)
WINE TASTING: Noon-6 pm at Stottle Winery (WSB sponsor; street level of ActivSpace on Harbor Avenue just north of the bridge).
KITTY HARBOR’S FINAL DAY OF THE YEAR: Also on Harbor Avenue just north of the bridge, and also noon-6 pm, last chance to provide a forever home for a Kitty Harbor kitten or cat, today.
SANTA! Photos at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) 1-4 pm. Photos with “Ex-Westwood” Santa at CAPERS in The Junction (bring food/cash for the West Seattle Food Bank), 2-6 p.m. And the Westwood Village Santa schedule for today/tonight is here.
2 OF YOUR LAST 3 CHANCES TO SEE ‘SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE’: “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor) continues in its premiere run, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – 2 and 7 pm. According to the show’s Facebook page, all remaining shows are “pay what you can.”
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES’ FOOD-BANK FUNDRAISING DINNER: 5:30-7 pm, fried-chicken dinner – details in the calendar listing.
BASKETBALL TONIGHT: Seattle Lutheran visits West Seattle High School – girls’ varsity at 5:15 pm, boys’ varsity at 7.
CHRISTMAS VAUDEVILLE AND SINGALONG: Tonight at Kenyon Hall: Comedy juggling, live music by the Bottom Line Duo, Bob White at the Mighty Wurlitzer, and Lou Magor conducting the audience in a Christmas sing-along. 7:30 pm. Reservations and ticket info here.
THE WINTER WONDERETTES! ArtsWest presents the “new ’60s Christmas musical,” tonight at 7:30 pm. Details and ticket sales are on the ArtsWest website.
LIVE NON-HOLIDAY MUSIC TONIGHT: Venues include C & P Coffee and Feedback Lounge (both WSB sponsors) – see the listings on our regular Event Calendar.
(added, since someone asked about this) *NOT HAPPENING TODAY* We recently checked on the originally announced plan to open Roxhill Castle playground today – and volunteer organizer Mat McBride said the opening’s been postponed; no new date yet, but we’ll report it when one is set.
In the North Delridge neighborhood of Cottage Grove, a new tradition was born on winter-solstice night – a neighborhood parade. Led by neighbors Tanya and Patrick Baer in illuminated costume, as you can see in our video clip (that’s Tanya you hear explaining the parade just before it began), they brought lights and good cheer to walk the Longfellow Creek trails while celebrating both the longest night of the year and the brighter days ahead. West Seattle has a burgeoning tradition of neighborhood holiday parades – in the summer, there’s the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade, while at year’s end, the Highland Park Not-So-Silent Night Parade (coming up on New Year’s Eve) – and now, there’s this.
Though school’s out now for two weeks, students and families returned to Denny International Middle School tonight for a tradition – the Posada Navideña celebration, with music, dancing, potluck food, and fun. Decorations, too, including the snowman collection set up in the cafeteria:
The first-ever Denny Posada was back in 2010 (WSB coverage here), organized by the Denny PTSA as a multicultural celebration for a multicultural school, rooted in the Latin American pre-Christmas Las Posadas tradition.
We’ve been out covering some of tonight’s events – but before we get to those, three sightings. Above, WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams spotted Santa Claus by the Vashon ferry line in Fauntleroy! That’s not far from where the jolly old soul also spent part of this evening listening to last-minute Christmas wishes – among other things – at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor):
Santa being a ubiquitous sort of gent this time of year, those of course were not the only places he was sighted tonight, but we thank Julie for sharing the photo of the classic beard-authenticity check. As you can see in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, Santa will be back at Thriftway each of the next two days (1-4 Saturday, 3-7 Sunday), as well as a few other spots.
Finally, a lovely view at sunset – looking toward downtown – shared by Toni T:
(Right about then, we were at Alice Enevoldsen‘s winter-solstice sunset watch – story on that, coming up.)
Since the weather is suddenly lovely – we know some may go out for a walk or ride tonight to look at Christmas lights, and we’ve mapped some of West Seattle’s most brightly lit homes, as in years past. Among them, the home you see above – 4152 46th Ave SW, where Duane Davis explains that they “have been decorating the home for 17 yrs and now have 10,000 lights – half are the energy efficient LEDs. Drive by and enjoy the cotton candy trees, our home, and our well lit neighborhood. Merry Christmas, West Seattle!” We expect to add at least a few more after tonight, but here’s what we have so far:
To make the map printable, we left off the descriptions, but note that a few spots have multiple homes – in particular, the vicinity of 4043 Fauntleroy Way SW, which is the stub of Fauntleroy that is something of a frontage road along the southwest end of the bridge – that house is great, and even more of the neighbors have joined in this year.
Meantime, if you have other homes/apartments to suggest, please comment, or e-mail us the address to check out (photo/s welcome too if you have them): editor@westseattleblog.com – we’re adding this map to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide so you can find it if you need to, in the nights ahead.
Thank you to Alki photographer David Hutchinson for another view of what might not be the only pelican visiting West Seattle for Solstice/Christmas – David works with Seal Sitters and says first responder Robin Lindsey noticed two at Don Armeni earlier today! Meantime, winter has begun, and the last weekend before Christmas is under way. Lots to do tonight:
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE WINTER BREAK: Some independent schools are out already, but today is the last day of Seattle Public Schools classes, with one-hour-early dismissal districtwide.
LOTS OF SANTA! “Santa Al” is at Tram’s Salon till 1 pm, “Ex-Westwood Santa” is at CAPERS 3-7 pm, West Seattle Thriftway has Santa 4-7 pm, Westwood Village has Santa till x pm.
WINTER SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH: From NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen:
It’s time for the 15th seasonal sunset watch!! 4:05 pm (so come at 3:45 pm)
Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20 pm, but at the summer solstice we noticed that the Sun set about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says it does, so I’ve moved the time of our sunset watch up so we don’t miss it. Last autumn the timing seemed to line up correctly – what will it do this time?
Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
Who: Everyone welcome, as usual.
SOLSTICE PARADE IN NORTH DELRIDGE: From the invite –
You are cordially invited to join Captain Snowflake and WinterFly in welcoming the start of Winter and the dawning of days with increasing light. This celebration is a 40-minute illuminated walk along the Longfellow Creek Legacy trails. 6:30 pm, Greg Davis Park, 26th Ave SW & Brandon Street SW. For the Solstice Parade, you are encouraged to wear an outfit or costume illuminated by lights or bring a lantern or flashlight to carry along the path.
WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: 6:30 pm December 21st at West Seattle’s Hummingbird Studio. From the Facebook invitation:
Honoring the Darkness, Celebrating the Light – Winter Solstice Fire Dancing, Ritual & Gong Meditation: Join Sound Therapist Sha’ari Garfinkel for this powerful Winter Solstice event featuring a special Sun-centered healing gong meditation, LIVE fire dancers including renowned performer DeAnna Riley, drumming, refreshments and more. For more information, please go to www.innerlistening.com or call 206.309.4667.
THE GRINCH AND RALPHIE, DOUBLE FEATURE! Highland Park Improvement Club‘s free-movie night includes “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “A Christmas Story,” 6:30 pm (12th/Holden).
HOLIDAY CHURCH SERVICES TONIGHT: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has its “Blue Christmas/Longest Night” service tonight, and Arbor Heights Community Church has its candlelight Christmas service. Both are at 7 pm, and both are on our list of West Seattle Christmas church services – see the full list here.
SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE – THE MUSICAL: Locally created/produced “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” continues its premiere run tonight, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – 7 ps. Tickets are available online here.
SEATTLE GIRLS’ CHOIR CONCERT: Seattle Girls’ Choir performs Lessons and Carols at 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary Church (4210 SW Genesee). Proceeds will go to Toys for Tots. Full details here.
CHRISTMAS VAUDEVILLE AND SINGALONG: Tonight at Kenyon Hall. Comedy juggling, live music by the Bottom Line Duo, Bob White at the Mighty Wurlitzer, and Lou Magor conducting the audience in a Christmas sing-along. 7:30 pm. Reservations and ticket info here.
NON-HOLIDAY NIGHTLIFE: Lots of it, on our regular calendar – see the listings here!
Always hate to start talking pre-Christmas about what to do with the tree post-Christmas, but in case you’re wondering, Seattle Public Utilities has just sent the information (which gives us another occasion to remind you that if you have Tuesday solid-waste pickup, it’ll be on Wednesday the next two weeks since Christmas/New Year’s are on Tuesdays):
City residents who subscribe to curbside food and yard waste collection can put their Christmas trees and holiday greens out on their regular collection day at no extra charge, from Dec. 26, 2012 to Jan. 13, 2013.
Multi-family buildings can put out one tree next to each food and yard waste cart per collection day at no extra charge during this time.
Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or twine. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed.
Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Each unit of extra garbage costs $8.60. Plastic trees are not recyclable.
Seattle residents can also drop off their holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ North and South Recycling and Disposal stations between Dec. 26, 2012 and Jan. 13, 2013. The tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees and wreaths without flocking or decoration may be disposed free of charge.
The City of Seattle’s North Recycling and Disposal Station in the Fremont/Wallingford area and the South Recycling and Disposal Station in the South Park area will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1. The North Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 1350 North 34th Street. The South Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 8105 5th Ave South. The stations are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In case you need it again for reference, we’ll add this to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which will be up and running through New Year’s Day, too.
Walk into the bar at Yen Wor in The Admiral District tonight, and you’ll get a name tag like that – it’s the Christmas party that karaoke host Guy Olson organized for anyone who’s missing the classic company-party-type event because they’re work-at-home/unemployed/etc. Guy is presiding, with helper Katie:
And special guests – KING 5 reporter Zahid Arab and crew; back when Guy announced the party, we tweeted about it, and Zahid thought it sounded like a fun story, so they’re there (you might have noticed the live truck parked on the north side of the building):
You’re welcome to join in – sing, dance, wear a lampshade (you might have to bring your own), make up stories about imaginary officemates … If somehow you’ve never been to Yen Wor, it’s at California/College.
Just added to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: The first draft of our “restaurants open on Christmas/New Year’s” list! You’ll find the links in the guide but for direct perusal now – here it is. This year, we’re including Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve information where applicable, too. Please let us know (editor@westseattleblog.com) about changes/additions – the information you see is the result of dozens and dozens of phone calls and even some in-person visits, and venues sometimes change the plan at the last minute. The coffee and supermarket lists are almost done, too, and will also be linked from the Holiday Guide (which, as previously announced, already has the Christmas Eve/Day church-services page linked too).
Thanks to John for the recent raccoon group photo from Sunrise Heights. Today brings multiple opportunities for you to hang out with others – from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and regular year-round Event Calendar:
STORY TIMES: Preschool Story Time at two local libraries this morning – Southwest (35th/Henderson) at 11 am, Delridge (Brandon/Delridge) at 11:15 am. P.S. – Note that all Seattle Public Library facilities will be closed MONDAY (Christmas Eve) as well as Tuesday (Christmas Day).
SPRUCE @ DESIGN COMMISSION: As first reported here on Monday, the project now in the works for the 39th/Alaska site long known as “The Hole” is going back to the Seattle Design Commission (1:30 pm, Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall) for a discussion of the “public benefit” component of the revised project. Open to the public, and there usually is a public-comment period. It’s part of an all-day meeting, so don’t wait for the doors to open – just go in when you get there.
FREE WINE TASTING: It’s all about “holiday wines” tonight at West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor), 5:30-8 pm.
SHOP LATE THURSDAY!!! Last one before Christmas, 6-9 pm – participating merchants are listed here. At WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits: Discounts, and snacks/book signing with West Seattle-based, nationally renowned cookbook author Kim O’Donnel – details here.
ALSO OPEN LATE TONIGHT: Avalon Glassworks offers Hot Shop Late Thursday! “Shop late this Thursday until 8 pm. We’ll have live glass blowing to keep the house warm …”
‘WRAP IT UP’: Gift wrapping by donation with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF: These two animal-advocacy groups are wrapping gifts by donation (you decide how much), with 100 percent of the donations going to help animals, 6–9 pm, Beer Junction, 4511 California SW (during their weekly Beer Tasting)
CELEBRATE MARTY RIEMER’S MOUNTAIN DEPARTURE: 7-10 tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – details in the Facebook invite.
HIGH SCHOOL CONCERTS: West Seattle High School Winter Concert tonight in the WSHS Theater, 7:00 pm; also at 7, at Chief Sealth International High School, concert by Denny International Jazz/Chief Sealth International Jazz 2/Chief Sealth International Jazz 1.
CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR WORK-AT-HOME/UNEMPLOYED/ETC.: And after you’ve shopped … Yen Wor karaoke host Guy Olson is organizing company-party-style festivities for those who won’t get them otherwise (he was last seen looking for a copy machine to borrow), starting at 9 pm.
WINTER SOLSTICE TOMORROW! And there are solstice events – including a North Delridge walk and Alice Enevoldsen‘s always-popular sunset watch – in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, along with other holiday events, all the way through New Year’s Day – we’re continuing to update it daily (it now includes the link to our full list of Christmas Eve/Day/etc. church services, and later today we’ll be adding the lists of restaurants/coffee open for the holidays.
With five days left until Christmas, time is running out for the giving trees and donation drives around town, and some have wrapped up already. Two updates:
First, there’s still time to help out the families who will benefit from the giving tree at CAPERS in The Junction. Proprietor Lisa Myers shared the photo, and says:
The Hickman House Giving Tree is still going strong and collecting donations for the moms and kids who are recovering from Domestic Violence. Gifts for women and children are being accepted through the 23rd of December at CAPERS, 4525 California SW in The Junction. The outpouring of support has been fabulous this year.
There are a few things needed to round out the gifts already acquired:
****All household items: kitchen utensils, pots & pans, silverware, dishes, glassware, twin sheets & blankets
****Gift cards to local establishmentsHickman House is transitional housing in West Seattle for moms/kids who are victims of domestic violence and is under the umbrella of the Salvation Army. All gifts and gift-card donations go directly to the residents living at the facility. CAPERS has sponsored the Hickman House Giving Tree since 1990.
Meantime, a successful holiday-giving drives that recently wrapped up shared a report, and this photo of some of the young helpers:
This drive covered not only West Seattle, but three other communities:
EuropaKids International Preschool, with locations in West Seattle, Burien, and Edmonds, teamed up with Annie’s Nannies of Ballard over the past few weeks and sponsored a diaper drive for WestSide Baby. We put a challenge out to our parents to bring in 5,000 diapers for donation.
We held an internal contest between the individual classrooms and not only did our families meet this challenge, we ended up collecting over 7,858 diapers! As you know, Westside Baby helps families with children by collecting and distributing car seats, clothing, toys, and diapers to local families in need. The holiday is season is upon us and these donations are extremely important to families who need a little extra help. Thank you to the families and staff who participated in this event!
In addition to the CAPERS Giving Tree above, other giving opportunities are listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
One week till Christmas – and two reminders from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (now adding more solstice and New Year’s events, plus last-minute Christmas happenings):
WORK AT HOME? COME TO THE PARTY! West Seattle Office Junction (forthcoming co-working space in West Seattle) is hosting a co-workers’/at-home workers’ Christmas party from noon to 1 at Beer Junction, 4511 California SW. Anyone and everyone is/are welcome to come. Bring your cookies, lunch and a dish to share, if you like, and show off your favorite Christmas sweater.
SING FOR YOUR SUPPER: From 5-10 pm at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor; 9261 45th SW), it’s Sing for Your Supper–Holiday Edition! Everyone is welcome to participate; you must sing a holiday carol for at least 1 minute and no more than 2 minutes, all a cappella. Singers will be awarded either a free beverage, appetizer, entrée, or dessert. Santa and his elves will be there too.
(1/1/12 West Seattle Polar Bear Swim on Alki, photo by Henrik via WSB Flickr group)
Half a dozen times in the past week or so, we’ve received inquiries about whether the annual Alki Polar Bear Swim is on for New Year’s Day as usual. So we e-mailed organizer Mark Ufkes to ask – and he has now formally announced the event for Tuesday, January 1, 2013:
The annual West Seattle Polar Bear swim starts at 10 am sharp on January 1 each year. It is a great way to wash away the complexities of the previous year, and celebrate the unlimited potential that awaits each of us in the new year. Year after year, Polar Bear swimmers declare that this ritual creates a sense of renewal, and helps make the new year stronger and more positive.
On January 1, 2013, West Seattle will attempt to reach 1,000 swimmers participating in a Seattle-area January 1 Polar Bear swim. We meet at Alki Beach across from Duke’s and Christos restaurant’s on Alki. Last January, we had about 325 swimmers on January 1, 2012. Swimmers gather at 9:45 am, fan out into a long line along our beautiful Alki beach, hold hands, and then, with a loud cheer, run together into Puget Sound sharply at 10:00 am. Swimmers should bring a towel, good water shoes and dry clothes to change into. Traditionally, Dukes restaurant generously provides free clam chowder and local families bring hot chocolate for the crowd. Afterwards, Alki beach is full of hundreds of smiling swimmers and their families and friends. Come join the fun. Do the West Seattle Polar Bear swim. You will have a great time!
We’re adding it now to the list of other New Year’s Day (and Eve, and Christmas Eve/Day) events/activities in the WSB Holiday Guide, which we’re continuing to update daily as the season continues.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Socks are among items often requested for the residents of the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” – and this morning, its residents received more than 270 pairs, courtesy of the Arrowhead Gardens Residents Community. The group’s vice president, Diane Radischat, explains:
The Arrowhead Gardens Residents Community wanted to do something to help those in need. We needed to find a project that would work for anyone living here, something that was useful and most of all affordable to our residents. We decided on a ‘sock drive’ and chose the recipients to be the residents of Nickelsville.
Yesterday was our annual holiday event. We held a brunch and asked everyone to bring a pair of new socks. What a great success! We collected and delivered 271 pairs of socks along with 5 hats and 5 pairs of gloves.
And this morning, Diane and Darrell Orr, Alan Quigley, Lori Pelligrino, Sharon Schaffner, Joe Matthews, and Anne Rutherford, arrived with the special delivery. If you are interested in donations to Nickelsville – WSB Forums members have continued to organize deliveries large and small – most recently, a Christmas tree (read about it here).
Local animal advocates have launched the first of this year’s five installments of the “Wrap It Up” benefit – they do the wrapping, you decide how much to donate. In the top photo, texted from today’s wrapping site at Beveridge Place Pub, that’s David Walega of Art for Animals’ Sake and Teri Ensley from Furry Faces Foundation. Wrapping elves include Keri DeTore:
F3 is partnering with Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation in the gift-wrap sessions, which will continue:
*Thursday, Dec 20th, 6 – 9 pm, Beer Junction, 4511 California SW, West Seattle (during their weekly Beer Tasting)
*Saturday, Dec 22rd, 1 – 6 pm, at Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub; 255 SW 152nd, Burien
*Sunday, Dec 23rd, 1 – 6 pm, Beer Junction
*Christmas Eve (Monday, Dec 24th), 2 – 7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub
And today at BPP (6451 California SW and also in the midst of its specialty-bottle sale), Wrap It Up is scheduled to continue until 7 pm.
Till 3 pm, the covered mule-drawn carriage is continuing to make the rounds in The Junction, during the season’s final Hometown Holidays Sunday (with co-sponsors including WSB). You can catch a ride from the southwest corner of California/Alaska, where we also found Lashanna Williams and Cari Jones on duty at Hometown Holidays Headquarters:
They’re also there till 3, and you can enjoy a cup of cocoa and cheery holiday music while you wait for the carriage – or even if you just stop briefly while shopping. Kitty-corner from there, just past the northeast corner of Walk-All-Ways, City Mouse Studio is the location for the final round of Junction Santa photos with City Mouse proprietor/photographer Donna Ryan (your donation goes to charity), and 3 is also the closing time for that. But this isn’t the end of Junction festivities this season – there’s Shop Late Thursday four nights away, and some merchants will be keeping special later hours all week (Curious Kidstuff, for example, sent word the store will be open till 9 pm this Monday-Friday, till 7 pm Saturday the 22nd, and till 6 pm Sunday the 23rd – we’ll be adding that, and any other special late pre-Christmas West Seattle shopping hours we hear about, to the Holiday Guide).
(December 2 Junction Hometown Holidays mule-drawn carriage; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Though it’s the second-to-last Sunday before Christmas, it’s the last one for many holiday events, since next weekend is a time for traveling and last-minute shopping. Among the highlights – the last Sunday for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB), with the return of mule-drawn carriage rides! And the Admiral Theater’s free Christmas movie. The highlights, from the WSB Holiday Guide and regular year-round Event Calendar, right after weather/water/road alerts:
WEATHER ALERTS: Reminder, the National Weather Service has a High Wind Watch in effect for our area tonight through tomorrow morning, and a Coastal Flood Watch for the potential intersection of strong wind and the extra-high high tides. Speaking of which …
HIGHEST HIGH TIDE: 7:34 am is the second and last instance of the highest of the high tides in this “king tides” cycle – 13 feet. (Here’s the chart.)
TRAFFIC-ALERT REMINDER: The lane closure on southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct and Atlantic St. offramp closure are scheduled to continue till early Monday morning, so be forewarned of possible traffic backups till then – consider heading to West Seattle via alternate routes (1st Avenue South to Spokane St. Viaduct or 1st Avenue S. Bridge, 4th Avenue South to 1st Avenue S. Bridge, I-5).
**already closed**FINAL DAY FOR HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: 41st and Dakota, last scheduled day for the lot (a WSB sponsor) that’s benefiting not only Holy Rosary School, but also three local charities: West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Helpline, and the Salvation Army’s Hickman House shelter for domestic-violence survivors.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: West Side Presbyterian Church presents “A Rockin’ Royal Christmas Pageant” at 9:40 am & 4:30 pm, 3601 California SW: “A Higher Calling to a Higher King – An action-packed musical that is complete with investigations, mystery, travel and oh yes – ‘royalty’. The songs are catchy and our orchestra will ‘rock’! Presented by our children and youth. All ages are welcome. A cookie reception will follow the 4:30 pm show. Admission is free.”
LAST CHANCE FOR PATHFINDER WREATHS: The handmade wreaths benefiting Pathfinder K-8 are scheduled to be available at their booth by the Farmers’ Market (next to KeyBank) one last time today, 9:30 am-2 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th and Alaska, as always.
SANTA PHOTOS IN THE JUNCTION: 11 am-3 pm, as part of Hometown Holidays, Santa will listen to your children’s Christmas requests at City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska). Professional Santa photos and printing – suggested donation of $15 or more goes to WestSide Baby.
MULE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES IN THE JUNCTION: 11 am-3 pm, FREE, courtesy of the West Seattle Junction Association. Take a traditional carriage ride down California SW, pulled by beautiful Belgian Draft Mules. Carriages depart on California SW in front of KeyBank at Hometown Holidays Headquarters.
STOTTLE WINERY TASTING ROOM: Noon-6 pm, 3400 Harbor Avenue; tasting info here (Stottle is a WSB sponsor).
BENEFIT GIFT WRAPPING: “Wrap It Up” with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF: These two animal-advocacy groups are wrapping gifts by donation (you decide how much), with 100 percent of the donations going to help animals. The first session is today, 1-7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW (during the Specialty Bottle Sale and for a couple hours after).
SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: Matinee performance of the locally written/produced “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor), 2 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); tickets available online. Bring your camera, because showgoers can take photos with Santa afterward!
‘EPIC OF THE NORTH WIND’: Native storyteller/artist Roger Fernandes invites you to “journey back to the time when the North Wind held this land under his power,” with song and dance, 2 pm at the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW). Cocoa and cookies (and see the Longhouse’s decorated tree). Details in the calendar listing.
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’ FINALE: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show will be performed one final time at 3 pm today at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW); tickets available online. Also: A Children’s Hospital toy drive is happening in connection with the show – bring a donation!
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: It’s meeting on a Sunday this time, for the holiday cookie exchange, 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Organizers suggest bringing 4 dozen to 6 dozen cookies. More info here.
‘THE WINTER WONDERETTES’: ArtsWest presents the “new ’60s Christmas musical,” 3 pm today. Details and ticket sales are on the ArtsWest website.
FREE CHRISTMAS MOVIE! The Admiral Theater will show “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at 4 pm as this year’s free Christmas movie, benefiting the Seattle Humane Society – bring donations to help them help animals – details in the original announcement.
FAUNTLEROY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: At Fauntleroy Church, 4 pm on the sanctuary performance stage. Bronwyn Edwards will direct choir, brass, and percussion in a medley of modern and traditional music of the season. The event will include carol singing and a reception. Free.
BELLS OF THE SOUND: “Home for the Holidays” concert by Bells of the Sound, 4 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW – details here
When you have as many Christmas lights up as the Menashe family does, you’re probably entitled to more than one visit from Santa Claus. And so, with nine nights left before Christmas Eve, the jolly old soul is there tonight amid the bright lights in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW, for photos with young Christmas-wishers, including some of the Menashe family’s youngest members:
If you see this before 10 pm, that’s how late Santa (in the persona of “Santa Al”) was scheduled to be on hand.
| Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Chance of Christmas snow?